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Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. A comparative study of the Malayan Emergency 1948 to 1960 and the Rhodesian Civil War 1964 to 1979

Stack, Michael David Leonard (2016-03)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.

Thesis

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation examines the relationship between particular tactics and strategies of two case studies, the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) and the Rhodesian Civil War (1964-1979). Two chapters illuminate the experiences of two Rhodesian units that served in Malaya as part of the Commonwealth Forces: ‘C’ Squadron (Rhodesia) 22nd SAS Regiment (1951-1953), and 1st Battalion Rhodesian African Rifles (1956-1958). In order to assess their impact on the Rhodesian Civil War, the Rhodesian Anti-Terrorist Operations (ATOPS) manual is compared with the British Anti-Terrorist Operations in Malaya (ATOM) manual. The final part of the dissertation comprises of an in-depth comparative study of a pivotal stratagem that the governments of Malaya and Rhodesia employed in their respective conflicts, namely their resettlement programs.
The two case studies were chosen primarily due to a paucity of comparative research involving the Malayan Emergency and the Rhodesian Civil War, and because the military link between the two conflicts has been largely unexplored. A combination of written primary sources and secondary sources were used to conduct the research. The primary sources consisted mainly of state documents, NGO reports, newspaper articles and press briefings from a number of national and public archives. The secondary sources comprised a variety of professional and amateur historical texts, and a selection of journal articles.
The study concluded that while the Rhodesian contribution to the Malayan Emergency may have been relatively minor, the military link was crucial in developing an understanding of the Rhodesian Civil War. A number of the Rhodesians, who served in ‘C’ Squadron 22nd SAS, continued their military careers and their experiences shaped the conduct of the Rhodesian Civil War. The comparative study on resettlement illustrates how the Rhodesian government attempted to replicate the Malayan resettlement program. Findings indicated that while the relationship between political, economic and military tactics and strategy were importance, the two conflicts were essentially political wars, and so every type of strategy and tactic had a political significance. Nevertheless, the study concluded that a variety of historical contexts and structural factors were more decisive in determining the outcome of resettlement.
This research has far reaching implications, particularly for counter-insurgent theorists. One cannot wage today’s wars from doctrine based solely on the lessons of wars from the past. It is rare that the political, social, cultural, military, geographical, international and economic factors unique to a certain conflict and time period, are reproduced exactly in another theatre of war. The Rhodesian conflict illustrates the dangers of using a previous conflict (due to a shared Imperial consciousness) as tactical and strategic guidelines.
The findings of this dissertation suggest that there are grounds for further comparative research on the Malayan Emergency and the Rhodesian Civil War.